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Shell Rot in Turtles and Tortoises

Shell rot is not a disease in itself, but is a term which
covers any kind of problem with the shell of either a turtle or a tortoise.
Symptoms are basically the same, whether the shell rot is caused by an injury or
an underlying condition, and should be looked out for on a very regular basis.
Most chelonian keepers will be aware that careful monitoring of shell condition
is vital for the health of the animal, and any changes in the look of the shell,
or the behaviour of the turtle or tortoise should be investigated straight away.

Causes of shell rot

Essentially, shell rot occurs when a bacterium or fungus or
even  usually in the case of turtles  algae gets into the shell and causes an
infection. This can happen in a number of ways and the most common is an injury,
either caused by a fight or other aggressive behaviour. If the affected animal
is kept with others, it is very important to make sure that it is not being
targeted by one of its cage-mates. This can be quite covert, so it is worth
watching quietly for a while if you suspect it is happening. Isolation of the
aggressor is a good idea, as it will give the injured animal time to recover.

The injury may come from rough walls or flooring in the
habitat and this is easily prevented by examining the inside of any cages or
runs on a regular basis. It is important that all chelonians are kept in
appropriate humidity  if it is too dry, the shell will crack, allowing bacteria
and fungi spores in to the break. If it is too damp, the shell can become soft
and the plates may lift, again allowing disease causing organisms in. Ticks can
also create the tiny break in the shell that is all that is needed to cause a
bad case of shell rot. It is also not unknown for tortoises to be affected by
insect attack whilst hibernating  it is important to make sure that the
hibernation conditions are such that will prevent this happening.

What to look out for

The first signs of shell rot are happily quite obvious and
the owner should spot it very quickly. This is important, because shell rot is
very contagious through a population and quite hard to eradicate. The shell will
look uneven and plates may lift; there will possibly be an unpleasant discharge
under the shell, which will smell horrible. There will be pitting of the shell
and in extreme cases, parts of the shell may fall off, showing the bone
underneath which may be healthy but may also be necrotic if the condition has
been present for a long time. If the infection has reached the bone this is very
serious and requires an immediate visit to the vet. As long as the shell rot is
found quickly, it can be treated by the owner but no one should home medicate
for longer than a week; if the condition persists or does not show improvement
quite quickly, the vet should be called.

Treatment of shell rot in turtles and tortoises

There is a slight variation in the care given to turtles as
opposed to tortoises, because of their different habitats. The best first step
is to gently remove the affected tissue, which can be brushed with a toothbrush
which can also be used to administer chlorhexedine or anything similar which
your vet can recommend, which should eradicate the infection. Because the
turtles shell is usually thinner than that of a tortoise, more care must be
given when debriding the affected shell, as it is important not to reach the
bone. Also it is more difficult to keep the area clean on a turtle, so it must
be housed separately from its usual companions in scrupulously clean water.

Most organisms which cause shell rot thrive in an
atmosphere with little or no oxygen, so it is vital to keep the area well aired.
If it has to be covered for some reason, it should just be with a very light
dressing of gauze to let the air in. The important thing to remember when
treating shell rot in a turtle or a tortoise is to not persevere for too long on
your own  if there is not a very significant improvement within a few days or
the animal seems to be failing then it must be taken to the vet as soon as
possible.

Prevention is better than cure

Stopping a tortoise or turtle from developing shell rot is
relatively easy. Aggression can be minimised by not mixing species and if you
must mix for some reason, keeping relatively same sized animals together can
make bad bites and clawing uncommon.

Keeping all habitats scrupulously clean is an obvious piece
of advice but is surprisingly hard to do. Old bits of food can rot down in
unnoticed places and can harbour fungi and bacteria, not to mention flies which
will lay their eggs in any wound (fly strike), making any shell rot much
worse. For aquatic species, it is very important to keep the water clean, as
algae are also implicated in shell rot and dirty water constantly seeping into a
break in the shell will almost certainly cause lots of problems. All keepers of
animals should check them regularly and this will always be the best advice of
all for preventing or at least minimising the severity of any condition  know
your animal and act fast if there is a problem.

How serious is shell rot and what can happen?

As long as it is caught early, shell rot is not too
serious. It can be treated very successfully at home and although it can take a
while to clear up, in an animal which may easily live for eighty years in the
case of a tortoise, or forty for a turtle, a few weeks being nursed through
shell rot is not such a big deal. The problems start if the shell rot has can
penetrated deeper than the shell. This can then become necrotic or cause an
abscess so deep seated that only surgical intervention can cure it and this can
sometimes quite literally take years. Finally, if the turtle or tortoise
develops septicaemic cutaneous ulcerative disease  SCUD  which is essentially
a septicaemia arising from shell rot, then the outcome can be very serious
indeed, with many vets advising euthanasia of the animal.

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